This is going to be a different kind of blog so some of you way wish to switch to another channel. Here, I'm going to express some thoughts a sort of thinking out loud (or at least putting thoughts to paper).
I've mentioned countless times either in person or in print that one , if not the one, main reason that I like traveling is to just sit and watch how people of different cultures interact with other and go about their daily lives. This is also true of watching people back home. All these observations get me to thinking. Often, these thoughts make me sad about how people treat, or more accurately, ignore the poor, the homeless, or immigrants to a new land.
My thought is often "there but for the grace of God go I." Now, I am not a religious person. I have my beliefs but religion never seemed real or sincere to me. It seemed more like a cloak to wrap yourself up in to feel good. But I don't understand how can true Christians pass by the needy and not try to help. This most strikes me when I see someone on the steps of a MAJOR church or cathedral asking for help either with a handwritten sign or with their eyes and people just pass them by. I am no better than these people but I feel compelled to show them a little charity.
Over the course of several days in Lisbon I have given out a few Euros to people that have asked me for money. It was clear that they needed help. However, today while I was drinking my expensive coffee outside at a cafe, looking at my expensive smartphone, a man came up to me and said "My name is ... can you spare" I didn't even look up and just waved him off. I think started to feel bad - I mean, "what if God was one of us" and he was just seeing who would really help his people. Again, I'm not a religious person and very often I'm not even a good person, but this got me to thinking. We really should try and help one another.
Some of you may have seen my earlier post today about how I seemed shelter from the rain under the umbrellas of a sidewalk cafe and discovered that they had the big beers just like in Germany. I sat there for a very long time. I watched the people come and go at the tables. I watched people come and pass by as they walked along the sidewalk.
Then, at the edge of the sidewalk I saw a homeless man rubbing what seemed to be a dog. I've seen several times how the homeless will use a dog to hopefully get some money from the people passing by. But this man was not asking anyone for anything. He was concentrating more on rubbing the belly of his canine friend and giving him attention. I raised my camera up and I could see that the man was just being there sharing his affection with not one but two dogs. A watched this for about 30 mins. At no time did the man ask for anything from any of the people passing by.
I knew what I had to do. I opened my wallet and took out some money., an amount that would hopefully feed the man and his friends for a while. As I rose in my chair to go to him I had to wave off the waitress and told her that I would be right back. As I approached the man he never looked up or saw me coming until I was right on top of him. I handed him the money and he said "thank yo so much" or something to that affect and I just said "take care of them" and I returned to my seat outside.
After about 5 minutes he started to gather the things he had placed around him and leashed the dogs and put their water bowls in a bag. I may be wrong, but it seemed to me that the man and the dogs looked happier, almost excited. As the started to walk away from where I was sitting the man turned twice and waved a "thank you." What if God was one of us..
Later, I took some portraits of a family at the castle S. Jorge which I have edited and posted for them. I think that I did two good things today but I am still bothered by so quickly dismissing the man that came up to me while I was drinking coffee.
Maybe, little acts of kindness collectively to chisel away all the greed, hate, and unholiness of those that profess to do things in the name of good. I don't know. But I do know is that I've seen that a lot of people need help. Not billionaires, not countries, but people, just like you and me - "there but for the grace of God go I."
Until next time, be safe, be kind and catch you on the flip side.
